WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 1 SALISBURY 2

Joe Wood Chas Gajic and Jack Swann were all missing for this game against high flyers Salisbury.

On the field….Lynch Evans Murray Kelly Donachy Phelps Fisk Brimson Rutten Dyer Atkinson

On the bench …Kimber Langton Goddard Masson

A well worked ball almost slipped through our back four but Donachy stretched a leg and stopped the attack. Phelps took the ball clear to send Atkinson free on the right. In to Brimson and on to Rutten. Rutten’s touch though was a bit heavy and the keeper gathered to launch his kick into our third. A shot from a marauder went wide.

It was a good opening for the spectators with only 3 minutes on the clock.

Salisbury had the edge in possession but mid field was well populated and attacks were strongly monitored.

Lynch took a high catch from a corner and then Phelps headed clear a yard off the line as Salisbury pushed forward.

Kelly won a tussle and a wide ball to Atkinson put us into Salisbury’s third. A low cross was too near the keeper so a chance was lost.

Brimson sent Fisk free with a pass between defenders. Fisk spotted the keeper slightly off his line and a terrific chip clipped the angle of the bar and post.

Lively flank players kept Evans and Murray busy, but discipline was good and Salisbury were denied openings in front of the sticks.

Possession again became Salisbury’s. Good accurate passing kept them on the ball but Brimson Dyer and Kelly’s work rate prevented clear runs on goal.

Salisbury’s quality was obvious but today a bit blunted by a Verwood team working hard for each other.

41 minutes gone and a free kick taken by Tom Whelan dropped on the head of a Salisbury head a yard off the line …. 0-1.

Brimson’s through ball for Fisk raised hope with a minute of the half left but the keeper won this race booting the ball up field as the whistle blew for half time.

Half Time 0-1.

Joe Kimber came on for Aaron Atkinson with 50 minutes played.

Rutten did well to receive the ball under pressure but good feet took him clear. A headed ball found Fisk and Fisk had to bounce through two tackles to get to the edge of the box. A hooked left foot shot was on target but the keeper was well placed to take the catch.

Salisbury’s dug out had more people in it than we have crowds and their encouragement to drive the team on was a major feature. They got a response. Our back four was stretched but held firm. Donachy and Phelps were excellent in their role and with Murray and Evans strong in full back spots we looked solid.

Lynch was on form and chances that escaped attention were competently dealt with.

The game wore on with give and take. Then came a 68 minute leveler. Dyer won the ball in the middle. A slide rule pass found Fisk and Fisk delivered. A great piece of skill chipped the advancing keeper an the ball nestled in the back of the net 1-1.

We pushed on. We wanted another. Donachy went up for a corner, won the header but was disappointed to see it go high and wide.

Stung, Salisbury tried to up the pace and a spurt of extra energy gave them a temporary edge. Lynch had to pull off a good save from a corner and Kelly blocked a direct shot just inside the box.

Evans joined Rutten to spark an attack. Rutten was floored. Evans stepped up and floated the free kick onto the penalty spot. Brimson was just beaten to the ball. Out it came. Dyer slipped his marker and drove a low volley for goal. The side netting took the brunt of the force.

76 minutes we relaxed slightly and suffered. Salisbury showed their quality in front of the sticks and we found ourselves trailing 1-2.

78 minutes Alan Lay made a double substitution. Goddard came on for Fisk and Masson came on for Dyer.

It was a Goddard Kimber combination that opened up a gap on the right. Kimber’s cross field ball found Murray on the overlap. Murray’s deep cross into Salisbury’s territory was chased down by Rutten but a solid tackle prevented any danger to the keeper.

The game finished with a couple of thrills and spills at both ends but Salisbury took the three points. We worked hard but on the day lost to a team that must be promoted this season.

Result 1-2.